Containers and closure therefor



Sept. 27, 1966 P. s. CARANGELO 3,275,214

CONTAINERS AND CLOSURES THEREFOR Filed May 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l f7kg; 4:

INVENTOR Pasc mlie SCamngeio ATTORNEYS P 27, 1966 P. s. CARANGELO3,275,214

CONTAINERS AND CLOSURES THEREFOR Filed May 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ziliv L L 23' L54 UAW Pasqume 5. CamnqeAo RM Ma A 'F'I"O RNEY5 Sept. 27,1966 P. s. CARANGELO CONTAINERS AND CLOSURES THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet, 5

Filed May 28, 1964 INVENTOR Pasquale 5.Camnge.\o

BY M 22154 R Ma ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,275,214 CONTAINERS ANDCLOSURES THEREFOR Pasrguale S. Carangelo, West Haven, Conn, assignor, bydirect and mesne assignments, of one-third to Alfred Celentano, NewHaven, Conn., and one-third to Anthony P. Delio, Hamden, Conn.

Filed May 28, 1964, Ser. No. 370,867 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) Thisinvention relates to containers and closures therefor and moreparticularly to paperboard containers, and the like, adapted for use inpackaging food and drink.

In the prior art there are many different containers and closures. Forexample, milk containers which are in common use and available insupermarkets throughout the world are provided with various openings andclosures. However, most of these containers suffer from one disadvantageor another. The two major types of cornerdispensing milk containers, forexample, pose serious problems. In one type the liquid is dispensed fromthe corner of the carton and the top adjacent the closure easilycollects dirt, debris, etc., during shipment and handling. Another typerequires the insertion of a metal foil at a corner thereof whichincreases the cost of the containers and decreases the expedient openingby the consumer. The socalled pyramidal containers, which conceal thespout openings and keep them clean during transportation and handling,usually become defective during use with the result that the userinserts a finger or finger nail into the folded corner portion thereof,thereby transporting dirt thereto.

In the cartons and closures which form a part of my invention, thedisadvantages of the prior art are substantially eliminated by providingpaperboard cartons and the like which are easily manufactured. Inaddition, the closure for the carton keeps the pouring spout area cleanduring handling and use and makes provision for efiective rescaling ofthe container during storage by the consumer.

In view of the foregoing it is an object of my invention to provide newand improved containers and closures therefor which can be easilymanufactured and sealed.

Another object of my invention is to provide new and improved containersand closures thereof, which containers are provided with a tear-openportion and a tab closure which is sanitary and convenient.

Still another object of my invention is to provide new and improvedcontainers which can be made from paperboard blanks and the like, whichhave their surfaces coated with various plastic materials and which canbe easily and eifectively sealed with or without glue utilizing standardpractices in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereafter described and the scope of theinvention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the severalviews and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to a preferredembodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank for the container according to thepreferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective of the container shown in FIG. 1 withthetop of the container in position for filling;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1with the spout portion removed and the slidable closure in position overthe spout opening;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 55 FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of myinvention showing an alternate closure therefor.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of still another container according toanother embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 1010 of FIG.9;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view of the container top accordingto a further embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial plan view of a blank according to still anotherembodiment of my invention;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an assembled container top madein accordance with the blank shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 1414 of FIG.13.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container generally indicated at 20comprises a plurality of body panels 22, 24, 26 and 28, which at thebottom thereof are provided with end panel portions 23, 25, 27 and 29.As shown in FIG. 2 the blank is preferably formed in one piece and isprovided with suitable horizontal 30, vertical 31 and diagonal 32 creaselines to facilitate proper assembly of the bottom end panel portions influid-tight fashion. The bottom end panel portions of the containercould be designed in various ways and since they form no distinctiveportion of my invention further reference thereto will be dispensed withas those skilled in the art are conversant with the manner and means offolding and sealing same.

A top panel portion 33 is provided for eifecting a closure of theassembled body portionand vertical crease lines 34 are provided in eachbody panel for facilitating the assembly of the carton into a polygonalcontainer. In this connection it should be observed that one of the bodypanels, body panel 22 in this instance, has appended thereto alongitudinal portion A which either overlaps or underlaps the oppositebody panel 28 and forms a sealing flap when glued or heat-sealed inplace. At the top of one of the body panels, preferably one of the innerbody panels 24 or 26, the top panel portion 33 which is preferably anintegral part of the blank is formed with flange flaps 35, 36 and 37. Amain portion 38 of the top panel portion 33 is provided with a series ofhorizontal and vertical crease lines 39 and 40, respectively. In thispreferred embodiment of my invention embossed ribs 41 are formed in thevertical flange flaps 35 and 37 so as to provide retaining means for aslidable closure 42, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the container is shown assembled with theslidable closure 42 removed from the top panel portion 33 and with theflaps 35, 36 and 37 folded along the appropriate crease lines 40, 39 and40, respectively. The top panel portion is in a vertical 'position tofacilitate filling of the carton with the food or fluid to be containedtherein. A perforated spout portion 43 forms the necessary pouring spout46 when torn away and is preferably formed with a tab 44 which can beeasily grasped for tearing away portion 43. The top panel portion whenconstructed as a separate portion and not as an integral part of thebody blank would be provided with a 3 flange flap and crease linessimilar to flange flap 36. The body panel 24 would of course be of thesame height as the other body panels 22, 26 and 28 and perforationscorresponding to tab 44 would be made in both the body panel 24 and theflap.

When the carton is filled, the top panel portion 33 is folded down andthe carton is heat sealed in a manner familiar to those skilled in theart. Heat sealing techniques form no portion of my invention but it isreadily understood that techniques are employed with or without gluedepending upon the outer surface of the carton, etc. If the outersurfaces of the carton are plastic coated paperboard they may be heatsealed in the usual manner so as to provide a water tight or fluid tightclosure. The arrangement of crease lines and flaps in the top panelportion are such that the sealing surfaces are not easily splashed withthe foods or fluids being placed in the container during the fillingoperation.

As shown in FIG. 4, after the container has been scaled and shipped to acustomer or consumer and the perforated portion removed, the consumerbends up a closure flap 45 on the slidable closure 42 and moves theslidable closure from the dotted line position to the full lineposition. As such, the pouring spout is then covered over during storageof the container for reuse at a later time.

The interrelationship of the embossed rib 41, slidable closure 42 andspout opening 46 is clearly indicated in FIG. 5. As shown, the embossedri'b 41 holds the slidable closure 42 in position in such a fashion thatthe closure 42 can be moved back and forth over the main portion 38. Asclearly shown in FIG. 6, the embossed rib 41 extends a substantiallength along flaps 35 and 37.

Turning now to FIG. 7 which shows an alternate embodiment of theslidable closure, the main portion 50 of the top panel 33 is slit alongtwo parallel lines so as to define a quadrilateral portion 48. Thequadrilateral portion 48 contains a slidable closure 49 for slidablemovement back and forth over the spout opening 46. As more clearly shownin FIG. 8, the quadrilateral portion 48 is part and parcel of the mainportion 50. Accordingly, during sealing, a suitable sealant such as wax,plastic or the like should be applied to the corners of the quadriateralto effect a fluid tight seal.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the top panel portion50 of the container is provided with two rectangular tabs 51 and 52which hold the slidable closure member 49 in place so that it can bemoved back and forth over the spout opening 46. As more clearly shown inFIG. 10 the rectangular tab portions 51 and 52 are formed of additionalmaterial which is preferably heat sealed or glued at each extremity asshown. The rectangular tabs are creased at 53 so as to providesufficient clearance for the slidable closure 49. As is readily apparentthe rectangular ta-bs can be formed into one portion similar to thequadrilateral portion 48 illustrated above in connection with FIG. 7. Inthe modification the one piece portion 'would be attached to the mainportion in the same manner as the rectangular tabs-51.

In FIG. 11, the embossed ribs are eliminated in favor of upstanding tabs54 on each side of the container. These upstanding tabs 54 are fastenedto fiap by suitable heat sealing or gluing techniques and extend down toa point so that it just about contacts the slidable closure 49. Thisparticular modification is useful in connection with a slidable closureas described and shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 and 12 through 14.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 I propose an alternate arrangement for the blankshown in FIG. 2. The blank shown in FIG. 12 contains the usual bodypanels 22, 24, 26 and 28 with the vertical crease lines 34 as shown. Atop panel portion 55 is provided with modified flange flaps 56 and 57and flange flap 36 similar to that shown in FIG. 2. The flaps of FIG. 12are approximately half the size of the flaps shown in FIG. 2 but theadjacent "body panels ar provided with body panel flaps 59 and 60 whichare assembled in place over flaps '56 and 57, respectively, as moreclearly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. In this particular arrangement thebody panel flaps are similar in function to the upstanding tabs 54 ofFIG. 11 and hold the slidable closure 42 in position for movement to andfro over the spout opening 46.

While the spout opening shown is somewhat different than those wellknown in the art, and is preferably adapted to a one piece blank, thespout opening can be formed as an oval or circle with a separatedetachable interference fit cover.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the objects set forthabove among those made apparent from the preceding description areefi'iciently attained and since certain changes may be made in the abovearticle without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described in my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A blank for producing a quadrilateral container comprising fourattached body panels, said body panels separated from each other by atleast one crease line, a bottom sealing flap means coupled to said bodypanels, said bottom flap separated from the body panels by a creaseline, a top pouring flap coupled to one of said body panels, said topflap including a rectangular member having one side separated by a firstcrease line from said one of said body panels, and a second crease lineparallel to and spaced apart from said first crease line, three flangeflaps coupled to the three other sides of the rectangular member andseparated from said rectangular member by crease lines, two of saidthree flange flaps only extending from the second crease line to thecrease line separating the third of said flange flaps from therectangular member.

2. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said flange flapshas a crease line spaced apart from and parallel to the crease linesseparating the flange flaps from the rectangular member.

3. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein a perforated spout meansis formed from a part of the rectangular member and :a top portion ofthe body panel coupled to it.

4. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two of saidflange flaps have rib means.

5. A blank in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said flange flapshas a crease line spaced apart from and parallel to the crease linesseparating the flange flaps from the rectangular member, wherein each oftwo of said flange flaps has ri'b means positioned between the creaseline separating it from the rectangular member and the last-mentionedcrease line, and wherein a perforated pouring and fluid-directing meansis formed from a portion of the rectangular member and from a portion ofthe body panel coupled to the rectangular member.

6. A container having a plurality of side panels coupled together toform a hollow body, a bottom panel coupled to each of said side panelsat one end thereof and forming .a closure therewith, a top panel coupledto each of the side panels at the other end thereof and positioned belowthe other ends of the side panels so that a plurality of lips are formedbetween a surface of the top panel and the ends of the side panels, anda spout means formed from one of the lips and from a portion of the toppanel adjacent said one of the lips, such that fluid may be directedaway from the container during use thereof.

7. In a container of the class described, having body panels forming ahollow substantially polygonal body and having end panels forming atransverse closure at the bottom of the hollow body, said containercharacterized by a top panel portion provided with a main portioncoupled to one of the body panels and flange flaps bent normal to theplane of said main portion to lie against the body panels and form atransverse closure at the top of the hollow body, said main portion anda top portion of the body panel coupled to the main portion having acutout portion which forms a fluid directing spout portion means, aslidable closure movable back and forth and in at least one positionoverlying at least a portion of said spout portion means, two of saidflange flaps provided with means for retaining said slidable closure inplace over said main portion, and wherein said retaining means are inthe form of embossed ribs located above the plane of said main portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/ 1909 Davis22917 7/1917 Craven 22937 X 7/ 1922 Thole 2297 2/ 1928 Michael. 3/ 1934Denman. 6/1941 Bergstein. 10/ 1946' Waters.

4/ 195 1 Forsyth 2297 X 12/ 1958- Moore 22917 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1959France. of 1908 Great Britain.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. A BLANK FOR PRODUCING A QUADRILATERAL CONTAINER COMPRISING FOURATTACHED BODY PANELS, SAID BODY PANELS SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER BY ATLEAST ONE CREASE LINE, A BOTTOM SEALING FLAP MEANS COUPLED TO SAID BODYPANELS, SAID BOTTOM FLAP SEPARATED FROM THE BODY PANELS BY A CREASELINE, A TOP POURING FLAP COUPLED TO ONE OF SAID BODY PANELS, SAID TOPFLAP INCLUDING A RECTANGULAR MEMBER HAVING ONE SIDE SEPARATED BY A FIRSTCREASE LINE FROM SAID ONE OF SAID BODY PANELS, AND A SECOND CREASE LINEPARALLEL TO AND SPACED APART FROM SAID FIRST CREASE LINE, THREE FLANGEFLAPS COUPLED TO THE THREE OTHER SIDES OF THE RECTANGULAR MEMBER ANDSEPARATED FROM SAID RECTANGULAR MEMBER BY CREASE LINES, TWO OF SAIDTHREE FLAPS ONLY EXTENDING FROM THE SECOND CREASE LINE TO THE CREASELINE SEPARATING THE THIRD OF SAID FLANGE FLAPS FROM THE RECTANGULARMEMBER.